Controlling device for mechanical apparatus.



N0. 645,766. Patented Mar. 20, I900. A. SUNDH.

CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR MECHANIC/APPARATUS.

' (Application filed Sept. 9 1B99.|

66heets-Sheet i (No Model.

IN VE N T017 8) A TTOHNE Y W/TNESSES ml: mm: 9m" ca. mum-mm, Wmumu, D.c,

No. 645,766. Patented Mar. 20, I900.

A. summ. CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR MECHANICAL APPABATU$.

(Application md se c. 9, 1899.) (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

ATTORNEY In: norms PETERS ca. FNOTO-LTIHD., wpsmucrou. a. c.

No. 645,766. Patented Mar. 20, I900. A. SUNDH.

CONTROLLING DEVICEhFOR MECHANICAL APPARATUS.

(Appligm-ion fil ed Sept. 9. 1899,)

(No Model.) 6 sheets sheet 3.

WITNESSES MAME/v 7'0/7 1 SW Q W M A TTOHNE Y THE mums vzrzns cm,PHOTO-LUNG. wasmman, m1.

Patented Mar. 20, I900.

A. SUNDH.

CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR MECHANICAL APPARATUS.

{Application filed Sept. 9. 1899.)

6 Sheds-Sheet 4 (No Model.)

/% [NYE/V703 B) myfi m ATTORNEY WITNESSES HO" WASHINGTON D c No.645,766. Patented Mar. 20. I900. A. SUNDH.

CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR MECHANICAL APPARATUS.

[Application filed Sept. 9, 1899.;

6 SheetsSheet 5.

(No Model.)

M INVENTOH ATTORNEY WITNESSES THE NORRIS fizfs zs co PHOTOJATNQ.WASHINGTON, D. c,

No. 645,766. -Patented -Mai'. 20, 1900. A. suunn.

CONT ROLLING DEVICE FOR MECHANICALAPPABATUS.

, (Application filed Sept. 9, 1899.) (No Model.)

' 6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

33 7 i /3 g a l8 2 KP I L 2 8 F'..9. Li

W 34 W/ TNE SSE S /NV N 7'0/7 WW W A TTOHNEY NITED STATES PATENT()EEICE.

nueusr SUNDl-I, or YONKERS, NEW YORK.

CONTROLLlNG DEVICE FOR MECHANICAL APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 645,766, dated March a,1906.

Application filed September 9,1899. germ NO- 730,004. (No model.)

T0. 60% whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LAUGUST SUNDH,of Yonkers, State of New York, haveinvented certain Improvements in Apparatus for Manually Starting andConcurrently Prearranging the Automatic Stopping ofIntermittently-lVorking Machines, of which the followingisaspecification.

This invention, broadlystated, consists of a manually-rotatablecircuit-closer electrically connected with a constantly-chargedconductor and combined with one or more self-breaking branch circuitsprovided with mechanically-rotated terminals for the purpose of manuallyeffecting the starting of an intermitten tly-working machine andconcurrently prearranging for the greater or less duration of suchworking and the automatic stopping of the machine.

The rotatable terminals of the branch circuits are in the form of spiralmetallic troughs insulated from each other and from the disk orface-plate which carries them. The circuit-closer, which is a studadapted to be seated in and travel in either one of said troughs, ismounted upon and projects laterally from one end of an end wise-yieldinglever adapted to be rotated upon an axis perpendicular to the said diskand also to be rocked upon an axis parallel with the said disk. The endof the lever opposite that car rying the contact-stud is constantlypressed toward the face-plate by a suitably-arranged spring and isprovided with a laterally-projecting stead y-pin adapted to travel uponthe surface of the face-plate and while so traveling to hold thecontact-stud in the trough in which it may be seated, and therebymaintain the closure of the one of the branch circuits connected withsaid trough. The faceplate is provided with a recess or cavity toreceive the end of the steady-pin, and thus permit the lever to be sorocked as to disengage the stud from the trough, and thereby break thepreviously-closed branch circuit as soon as i the mechan ically-actuatedface-plate has been rotated to the same extent as that to which thecircuit-closer has been previously rotated.

The lengthening of the movable terminals, due to their spiral forms,permits the circuitcloser to be rotated more than one revolution, whilemaintaining its contact with either terminal. It follows that themovable termi nals have so extended a range of possible motion beforethe circuit-closer is tripped out of connection with them that greatscope is afforded for the employment of the appa ratus for governing theoperations of machines required to operate for various andcomparatively-considerable periods of time or under a large variety ofconditions.

The manually-rotatable circuit-closer,whicl1 is the prime member of theherein-described controlling apparatus, may for convenience bedesignated as the governor, because in the operation in which it isemployed the direction of its rotation when manually adj ust eddetermines which branch circuit shall re ceive a supply of current, andthe extent of its rotation governs the duration of such supply.

Several of the many possible applications of the invention areillustrated in the accompanying drawings and diagrams, which are asfollows-to wit:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a mine-hoist equipped with my improvedcontrolling apparatus. Fig. 2 is an elevation of appara tus forautomatically opening and closing the throttle-valve of an engine. Fig.3 is a diagram of the electric wire and contact system of the apparatusof Fig. 2. Fig. t is an axial section of the governing apparatus,diagrammatically illustrating its application to a valve-reversinglever. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the governing apparatus of Fig. 4on a larger scale. Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the governing apparatusof Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is an elevation, partly in longitudinal section, ofthe shaft of the governing appa ratus. Fig. 8 is a top view of thecircuitcloser, showing its shaft in transverse section. Fig. 9 is a topview of the manuallyrotatable arm for adjusting the circuit-closer. Fig.10 is a view of the under side of the part of the circuit-closer towhich the contact-stud is aflixed, showing the brush for supplying thecurrent thereto. Fig. 11 is a sideelevation of a retaining-catch for thegovernor.

In Fig. 1, a represents a mine hoist-elevator suspended by a rope I),which is connectedwith a drum 0, operated by an electric motor cl, forraising and lowering cars e to and from different levels of the mine, asf g h.

ICO

In Fig. 2, i represents the throttle-valve of, say, a pumping-enginethat it is desired shall be set in motion from time to time andcontinued in motion until a certain quantity of water has been raisedand then be automatically stopped.

In the organization illustrated in Fig. t the .shaftj is to be set inmotion and stopped afshaft 7.; may be geared-by the worm-wheel Z,

worm m, sprocket-wheels m and n, and the endless chain 0, so as to berotated slowly. The shaft it is preferably mounted in a horizontalbearing 19, having any suitable base q. A disk or face-plate s is keyedto and partici pates in the rotation of the shaft It. On one side ofthis face-plate are two spirally-curved metallic troughs t and a, eachcomposed of two convolutions and respectively presenting theguide-grooves o and w. The troughs are insulated from each other andfrom the faceplate by suitable insulating material at. A switch-groove1/ leads from the inner end of the trough t to the outer end of thetrough u. A contact-stud ,2, carried by the endwise-yieldingmanually-rotatable lever 2, is adapted to traverse either of the grooves12 and 10, ac* cording to the direction in which it is moved from theswitch-groove and to thus close either of two branch circuits, accordingas the machine to be controlled is to be run in one direction or theother. Each of the metallic troughs may be concentrically curved whenonly a single convolution is required. The spiral form is for troughsrequired to have more than one convolution. In either case the metallictroughs 25 and u are literally the movable terminals of two branchcircuits 3 and at, in which are respectivelyincluded the insulatedcollars 5 and 6, mounted upon the shaft 7t, and the brushes 7 and 8. Asshown in detail in Fig. 4, the branch circuits 3 and 4 may include thesolenoid-coils 9 and 10 for operating a lever 38, which may be avalvelever or may be the prime member of a train of mechanicalconnections for imparting operative motions to a valvelev'er or otherinstrumentality. The contact-stud .2 is electric ally connected with thesupply-wire 12 of the main circuit through the brush 11, mounted on thelever 2, the insulated collars 13 and 14 on the shaft 70, and the brush15. The contact-stud z and the brush 11 are separated from the lever 2by the insulating material 16. The lever 2 is provided midway of itslength with a slot 17, enabling it to embrace the flattened hub 21 of aradius-arm 29, carried on the neck 18 of the shaft 70, and also with aslot 19 in a plane at right angles to that of slot 17, enabling it toembrace the pivot studs 20, carried by said hub 21. This constructionpermits the lever 2 to turn on the shaft and to rock on the pivots 20and also gives it the capacity of endwise movement. By means ofexpanding spiral springs 22 interposed between the ends of the slots 17and 19 and the hub 21 the lever 2 is returned to its median positionafter having been shifted either way therefrom.

One extremity of the lever 2 forms a pointer 23, which ranges over adial 24:. The other end of the lever 2 is prolonged to form a handle 25.The handle 25 has affixed to it the steady-pin 26, which, by bearingagainst the surface of the face-plate 3, serves to keep the contact-studz in the trough t or u, as the case may be, and thus close one of thebranch circuits, but which when seating itself in the recess 27 in thesurface of the face-plate permits the lever 2 to rock upon the axisafforded for it by the pivots 20 and to thereby withdraw thecontact-stud z, and thus break the previously-closed branch circuit. Thestead ypin 26 is constantly pressed toward the faceplate, and thus madeto enter the recess 27 by the push against the arm 25 of the spring 28,affixed to the radius-arm 29. The action of the spring 28 secures aquick snap-break of the circuit and correspondingly lessens the arc. Theradius arm 29, which is loosely mounted on the neck of the shaft 70 andthereon confined by the nut 30, communicates its rotating motions to thelever 2 by means of a fork 31, which is mounted on the radius-arm 29 andembraces the handle 25. The radiusarm 29 is provided with a handle 32and with a spring-latch 33 for engaging any one of the series of notchedcatch-plates 3 1, located at predetermined setting-points around thedial, and by such engagement holding the lever 2 stationary inprescribed positions.

From the median point 35 on the dial 2et there are two graduated scales,each composed of two spiral convolutions, one scale gradually increasingin radius and reading 1, 2, 3, P, &c., up to 20, and the other scalegradually diminishing in radius and reading l 2, 3 P, &c., up to 20.

The shaftj, Fig. 4, may be assumed to be coupled in any well-known waywith a steamengine adapted for working in either direction, according asits link-motion or other reversing valve-gear may be set by the movementof the lever 38, induced by the influence of one or the other of thesolenoid-coils 9 and 10. An expanding spiral spring 39 behind each ofthe solenoid-cores 40 operates to return the cores to their medianposition when the current is cut off and to thus set lever 38 and itsconnections in their median positions, in which the valve is made toclose both induction-ports, and thus render the engine inoperative. Itwill be understood that weights may, if desired, be used as theequivalent for the springs 39. Suppose now it is desired to start theshaft j in motion in the 5 j, say, one complete revolution.

direction indicated by the arrow n and to run it for a period of timecorresponding to the time required for the face-plate to make, by virtueof its geared connection'with the shaft The handle 32 of arm 29 will begrasped, the latch 33 disengaged from the notch in which it is seated,the handle 25 at the same time raised, so as to withdraw the steady-pin26 from the recess 27 and thrust the contact-stud into the switch-groove3 between the two troughs, and the lever 2 will then be turned onerevolution in such direction as to move the contact-stud z to the leftalong the trough it. Such motion, owing to the increasing radius of thetrough i, will gradually shift the pointer 23 radially outward, so thatit will come to rest immediately over the number 10. The lever 2 willthen be held stationary by the engagement of the latch 33 with the samenotch as before, but with the steady-pin 26 now resting on the surfaceof the face-plate s. The resulting engagement of the contact-stud z withthe trough 75 will close the circuit through the solenoid 9, the core ofwhich will then be drawn to the left, thus actuating the lever 38 andits connections as may be required to start the engine and set the'shaftj in motion in the direction indicated by the arrow n on Fig. 4. Theface-plate s will now be set into rotation in the same direction as thatin which lever 2 has been rotated. lVhen the face-plate s has made onerevolution, during which time the lever 2 will be shifted radiallyinward'by the diminishing radius, the spiral trough t, acting on thecontact-stud z, the steady-pin 26 will drop into the recess 27, and thuscause the withdrawal of the stud z from the trough t and the consequentbreaking of the previously-closed branch circuit. The spring 39, actingon the core of the thus-denergized solenoid 9, will then return the saidcore and the lever 38 into their median positions, and thereby again soset the valve as to stop the engine. The lever 2, or, as itmay beconveniently designated, the governor, may thus be utilized for startingan engine and running it any predetermined length of time, according asthe gearing is proportioned and the scale graduated. If the engine to becontrolled is only to be run in one direction, one trough only will berequired; but for an engine,electric motor, or other machine required torun forward and backward the two troughs will be used. As will be seen,the lever 2 may be so rotated as to move the contact-stud into and alongthe trough u, which will close the circuit including the solenoid l0,and thereby reverse the motion of the lever 38, or, as illustrated inFig. 2, if the valvez' is to be opened to supply an engine with steam orother actuating fluid through the service-pipe 38 the appropriatemovement of the lever 2 will close the circuit through and thus start anelectric motor 39, geared with the valve-stem 40. The valve-stem 4O willthus be turned in the proper direction to open the valve. At the sametime the belt 41, by which the valveoperating gears are also geared withthe shaft is, will set the face-plate sinto rotation in the direction inwhich the lever 2 has been rofated, the preparatory adjustment of thelever 2 having been such that by the time the valve is open thesteady-pin 26 will drop into the recess 27, and thus break thecircuitwhich has previously supplied the current to actuate the motor 39The motor will then stop and the valve remain open until, when it isdesired to close it, the lever 2 will be rotated in the reversedirection, by which the circuit will be again closed through the motor,but this time so as to rotate it in the reverse direction-t'. 6., in thedirection for gradually closing the valve. The face-plate s will-belikewise turned in the reverse direction until the dropping of thesteady-pin 26 into the recess 27 operates to again break the circuit bythe time the valve is closed. In setting the governor for opening thevalve the pointer 23 at the extremity of the lever 2 will be moved overthe dial a greater or less distance, according as the valve is to beopened more or less, and for closing the valve the lever will be movedback over thedial the same distance as that to which it was moved foropening the valve. The reversely-wound coils 42* and 43 in the diagramFig. 3 indicate the reverse windings of the field-coils of the motor 39,whereby the motor operates in reverse directions, according as thecircuit is closed through the troughs i or u and circuit-wires 3 or 4,12 being the supply-wire.

In operatinga mine-hoist, Fig. 1, if it be desired to lower the car fromthe platform 43 to the first level f the governor will be rotated to theright hand, say, until the pointer 23 stands over number 7 of the innerspiral scale of the dial, which will close the branch circuit 4,including the solenoid 41, and thereby cause the core of the solenoid 41to be shifted to the right hand, and thus set the motor 44 and the drum45 in motion for lowering the car, the parts being so proportioned thatthe car will come to rest at the level f in consequence of the timelybreaking of the circuit resulting from the rotation of the faceplate 8by the driving-belt 46. The face-plate will then rest with its medianpoint 35 in the radial line in which the pointer was set. Then if it bedesired to further lower the elevator-carsay to level g-the governorwill be again rotated farther along the same scale to the appropriatenumber, thereby again starting the motor and lowering the car until itis broughtto rest at the level g by resultant further rotation of theface-plate s. Similarly the car may be lowered to the lowest level It orto any one of a multiplicity of levels. The car may be raised from levelto level by rotating the governor in the opposite direction step bystep, as desired, or the car may be continuously raised to the platform43 by at once turning the governor backward a distance equal to the sumof all the setting movements of the governor by which the car has beenlowered, in which case the branch circuit 3, including the solenoid 42,will be closed and the motor 44 resultantly so operated as to cause theascent of the car.

My governing apparatus may without departure from the invention bevaried in its mechanical details. Thus it may be given a greater rangeof controlling capacity by the expedient of increasing the number ofconvolutions of the spiral contact-troughs or by the expedient ofappropriately changing the proportions of the gearing by which motion isimparted to the face-plate carrying the contact-troughs, or by theadoption, if desired, of both expedients. The two self-breaking branchcircuits may be employed not only to furnish the current for effectingthe operation of a machine in different directions at different times,but also for effecting the operation at different times of two differentmachines. If the control to be exercised should merely consist in thepredetermination of the duration of the various working periods of amachine required to run only in one direction, then of course one of theself-breaking branch circuits would be dispensed with. The inventionwould then be present in its simplest form, consisting of a circuitcloser and breaker composed of two movable terminalsone manuallyadjustable for the purpose of moving it against and along the surface ofthe other to a predetermined setting-point and the other terminaloperated mechanically by motion derived from the machine or apparatuscaused to be started by the current flowing through the closedcircuit-and means for effecting the automatic breaking of the circuitconcurrently with the completion by the mechanically-moved terminals ofa range of movement corresponding to the range of movement of themanually-adjusted terminal.

WVhat is claimed as the invention is-* 1. The combination of a machineor apparatus requiring to be ccntrol1ed,with an electric circuit; acircuit closer and breaker composed of two movable terminals, onemanually adjustable for the purpose of moving it against and along thesurface of the other to a predetermined setting-point and thereby moreor less prolonging the duration of the closure of the circuit; means formechanically operating the other terminal by motion derived from themachine or apparatus caused to be started by the current flowing throughthe closed circuit, and thereby effecting the automatic breaking of thecircuit concurrently with the completion, by the mechanically-movedterminal, of a range of movement corresponding in length to the lengthof the range of previous movement of the manuallyadjusted terminal butproportioned in time to the relative speeds of the machine or apparatusto be controlled, and the mechanically-operated terminal.

2. The combination of a machine or appa ratusrequiring to becontrolled,with an electric circuit; a circuit closer and breakercomposed of two movable terminals, one manually adjustable for thepurpose of moving it against and along the surface of the other to apredetermined setting-point and thereby more or less prolonging theduration of the closure of the circuit; means for mechanically operatingthe other terminal by motion derived from the machine or apparatuscaused to be started by the current flowing through the closed circuit;means for effecting the automatic breaking of the circuit concurrentlywith the completion, by the mechanicallymove-cl terminal, of a range ofmovement corresponding to the range of previous movement of themanually-adjusted terminal; an indicating-scale for gaging the relativemovements of the apparatus to be controlled and the terminal operatedtherefrom,and a pointer carried by said manually-adjustable terminal,said pointer having a path of movement in appropriate proximity to saidscale.

3. In an electric controlling device, in combination with a machine orapparatus to be controlled,a main electric circuit; a rotatableface-plate; mechanical gearing for transmitting from said machine orapparatus motion to rotate said face-plate two branch circuits withsuitably-curved terminals carried on said face-plate; amanually-adjustable contact-stud for more or less prolonged contact witheither of said curved terminals after having been manually rotated ineither direction to and lodged in a predetermined setting-point on theface-plate for closing either one of said branch circuits according tothe direction of its rotating movement and for maintaining such closureduring the ensuing rotation of said face-plate, and means forautomatically breaking such closed circuit concurrently with thecompletion by the faceplate of a range of rotative movementcorresponding in length to the length of the range of the previousadjusting movement of said contact-stud but proportioned in time to therelative speeds of the machine or apparatus to be controlled, and theface-plate geared thereto.

4. In an electric controlling device, in combination with the machine orapparatus to be controlled, a main electric circuit; a rotatableface-plate geared to-said machine or ap paratus for being rotated bymotion derived therefrom; two branch circuits having spirally-curvedterminals carried on said faceplate; a contact-stud for engaging eitherof said terminals and thereby closing either of said branch circuits; alever for carrying said contact-stud, the said lever rotatable in aplane parallel with the plane of said faceplate and vibratable in aplane perpendicular to the plane of said face-plate; a steady-pin onsaid lever for bearing upon the surface of said face-plate and therebymaintaining said contact-stud in engagement with either of saidspirally-curved terminals during the period while said face-plate isrequired to be mechanically rotated; a suitably-arranged 5 recess orcavity, in the surface of said faceplate and a spring for pressingtoward the face-plate the end of said lever to which said steady-pin isattached, whereby when said face-plate has completed a rotative movementcorresponding to the rotative movement previously imparted to themanually-adjusted contact-stud said steady-pin will be forced into saidrecess by said spring and the contact-stud thereby tripped out ofengagement IS with the terminal of the previously-closed branch circuit.

5. In an electric controlling device, in combination with a machine orapparatus to be controlled, a main electric circuit; a rotatazo bleface-plate gearing for transmitting from said machine or apparatusmotion to rotate said faceplate; two branch circuits electricallyconnected respectively with two spirally-curved and suitablyinsulatedmetallic z 5 troughs carried on said face-plate; a manually-adjustablecontact-stud electrically connected with the main supply-circuit forengaging either of said troughs and thereby closing either of saidbranch circuits; an end- Wise-yielding lever for carrying saidcontactstud, the said lever rotatable in a plane parallel with the planeof said face-plate and vibratable in a plane perpendicular to the planeof said face-plate; means for maintaining said contact-stud in positionto be engaged by either of said spirally-curved troughs during apredetermined range of movement of said mechanically-rotated face-plate,and means for tripping said stud out of such engagement concurrentlywith the completion by said face-plate of a range of rotative movementcorresponding to the range of previous rotative movement of themanually-adjustable contact-stud.

6. In an electric controlling device, in combination with a machine orapparatus to be controlled, a main electric circuit; a rotatableface-plate, gearing for transmitting from said machine or apparatus,motion to rotate said face-plate; two branch circuits electricallyconnected respectively with two suitably curved and insulated terminalscarried on said face-plate; a manually-adjustable contact-studelectrically connected with the main supply-circuit for more or lessprolonged engagement by either of said terminals; a lever for carryingsaid contact-stud, the said lever rotatable in a plane parallel with theplane of rotation of said face-plate and vibratable in a planeperpendicular to the plane of said face-plate; a manually-operativeradius-arm rotative upon an axis coincident with the axis of rotation ofsaid face-plate for controlling the rotative movement of saidcontact-studcarrying lever, and means, such as latching devices, forholding said radius-arm stationary at prescribed points.

7. In an electric controlling device,the combination with the machine orapparatus to be controlled, a main electric circuit, a rotating 7oface-plate geared with said machine to be actuated thereby; a branchcircuit electrically connected with a spiral contact-trough carried onthe face-plate; a contact-stud for engaging said trough; anendwise-reciprocable lever, for carrying said stud, pivotally andlengthwise movabl y mounted on an axial shaft of said face-plate, sothat the contactstud may be shifted around the face-plate and be set ina predetermined position and the trough may traverse the stud; asteadypin on said lever bearing on the surface of the face-plate tomaintain contact of said trough and stud; a recess in said face-platefor admitting said steady-pin and thereby breaking said contactaccording to a predetermined adjustment; a radius-arm loosely mounted onan axial shaft of the face-plate for controlling the lever; a latch forholding said radius-arm stationary and springs for longitudinallycentralizing said endwise-rociprocable lever.

8. In apparatus for manually causing the starting ofintermittently-working machines and concurrently prearranging for thegreater orless duration of the ensuing Working period and the automaticstopping of the machine at theexpiration of the predetermined period;

a manually-rotatable circuit-closer electrically connected with a mainsupply-circuit; a loo plurality of branch circuits provided withsuitably-insulated terminals consisting of independent spiral metallictroughs carried upon a disk or face-plate rotatable in a plane parallelto the plane of rotation of said circuitcloser; means for transmitting,from said machine motion to rotate said disk or face-plate in the samedirection as that in which the said circuit-closer has been previouslyrotated,and

means for effecting the breaking of the circuit concurrently with thecompletion, by the mechanically-moved terminal, of a range of movementcorresponding to the range of previous movement of the saidmanually-opera tive circuit-closer.

9. Apparatus for manually effecting the starting, in either direction,of intermittently working machines and concurrently prear ranging forthe greater'or less duration of the ensuing working period and theautomatic 12o stopping of the machine at the expiration of theprearranged period, said apparatus consisting essentially of amanually-rotatable circuit-closer electrically connected With a mainsupply-circuit and two self-breaking 1 2 5 branch circuits provided withrotatable terminals adapted for more or less prolonged engagement withsaid circuit-closer according to the prearranged duration of saidWorking period; in combination with electrical and mechanicalconnections for effecting the start- Signed by me at New York, N. Y.this 26th ing into motion of said intermittently-workday of August,1890.

in machine and mechanical earin for transl mi tting motion from saidrirachirfe to effect AUGUST SUNDH' 5 the rotating movement of saidterminals in NVitnesses:

one direction or the other according to the di- A. P. THAYER,

rection of movement of said machine. C. SEDGWIOK.

